Curt Hettman

As I figured some clarification is needed...

What would be a good way to capture that water in the landscape (soil) and not have it wash through the property taking nutrients and soil with it?

Details.

The area in the pictures is all the area to be turned into backyard.
The pictures are right after a storm that gave us 5 inches of rain after a 4 month drought. The water was gone in a few hours but causeed some errosion and mud problems.
The wet season here is May to June and September to December.

You can see the green shed on the right hand side and the dog yard on the left behind the fence.
I did bring in 8 yards of soil for the dog yard to level it some befor I put down sod. This makes that portion of the yard a bit higher.

I will be making a bed for the trees along the side of the green shed and will have more trees at the back (where they are in pots).
I would like to have garden space and a path on the right center and a fish pond on the left abutting the dog area.

As to the "pond" in the last picture that I am afraid will most likely have soil brought in to level it out some.

I have recently expanded my yard by demolishing my '71 trailer home. I put a new home on the property approximately 12 feet forward of the original location.
This gives me about a 40 x 40 area that I can usee to make a new backyard/garden space.
There is a water issue where the water passes through the property.
I would like to capture this water in the landscape as much as possible.

Ask questions I can give more details.

Pictures 1 and 2 are from the house looking back at the new area picture 3 is further back over the septic tank.

Curt Hettman wrote:I am not seeing a lot of requirements other than wood mallet hand tools only so here goes with my version of a club style mallet.

This is made from a cedar branch and is light but very easy to use. The branch is still very green and should hold up to some abuse for a while.

I have to say that this mallet is super useful. I have been using it for all sorts of tasks around the yard.

I am not seeing a lot of requirements other than wood mallet hand tools only so here goes with my version of a club style mallet.

This is made from a cedar branch and is light but very easy to use. The branch is still very green and should hold up to some abuse for a while.

I use my flock to keep the root flares on my fruit trees clear and exposed.
I throw a bit of scratch feed at the base of a tree whenever it looks like it needs a bit of exposure and they do the work. The added bonus is they keep the weeds removed, the soil loose, and add fertilizer.

There is comfrey in the yard that they keep pretty well mowed down.
Anything else I could add to the yard?

Question; Is there a general health regimine to help my rooster and chickens live long productive lives?

Background; I have had a backyard flock for about 7 years with my current oldest bird 4 years old, my Rhode Island Red rooster. He is great and would like to keep him healthy for many more years.
There are 11 hens and 1 roo and they all free range on 1/8th acre. I give food also, just a general layer pellet.
Free choice of oyster shell, about 4 cups scratch feed every few days, about two cups of dried meal worms about once a week, and 3 cups of sunflower seed a week.

Anything else I should be doing?

S Tenorman wrote:KC, yeah, it's free, so I want to utilize it/them if possible.

Here's what I be working with.  The first two beds that have onions and garlic are done.....and are a pleasure to work in due to their height.

Looking forward to getting it all done before spring.

Are those beds made using pallets?

Annie Collins wrote:
You could try composting it the same way Joe Jenkins talks about for humanure: https://humanurehandbook.com/ Scroll down the site's front page a bit and you will see some videos.
Nice looking group of dachshunds, by the way!

I will look at it thanks.

And thank you for the compliment. We have breeding miniature dachshunds for about 15 years now, and most of them are AKC champions at this point.

I like the idea of the post hole digger solution and have had similar ideas in the past.
I don't have lots of land though only about 1/8 acre that is the back yard where the chickens free range.
I can imagine the chickens would tear out most of the poo as soon as I put it in and then there is the issue of hand digging for me and an open hole in the yard.

The sewer solution is out as I don't have city sewer. I did consider putting it into my aerobic septic tank but have been told by other dog breeders that the hair doesn't break down very well and van cause problems.